Lead To Serve, A Leadership Podcast

On today's episode, Pastor Ed and Bob talk about the recent death of Pastor Jeff Johnson, Calvary Chapel of Downey and how important the role pastors play in our lives. God chooses the pastor that you need, and it's important you submit to that choice. Church hopping and undermining good godly leadership is neither biblical nor helpful.

Have you ever had someone talk to you but all the while not give you their full attention, always looking over your shoulder or around the room for someone more important? It's wrong, it hurts, and it shouldn't be done by a servant leader. In today's episode of Lead2Serve, Pastor Ed and Bob discuss the importance of giving your full attention to those in front of you. This is crucial f...

In this episode of the Lead to Serve podcast, Pastor Ed Taylor and Pastor Bob Claycamp explore the theme of walking by faith. Their discussion surrounds the necessity of trusting in God's guidance and the difficulties that arise when trying to control outcomes instead of relying the Lord through faith. Sharing personal stories and biblical insights, they stress the importance of obedience to G...

In this episode of the Lead2Serve podcast, Pastor Ed Taylor and guest Bob Claycamp discuss the critical role of the Holy Spirit in ministry and leadership. Authentic biblical ministry flows through a man or woman yielded to and looking to the Holy Spirit. Don't think for a moment you can accomplish the will of God in your own strength. This dynamic conversation covers the importance of daily s...

"Stepping Into Discomfort: The Key to Unlocking Servant Leadership" An important life lesson and ministry tool is to learn to face the things you don't want to face and choose to do the things you don't want to do. In this episode of the Lead2Serve Podcast, Pastors Ed Taylor and Bob Claycamp talk about the need to do things that you don't want to do. It's easier, it seems...

Have you ever wondered what it truly means to serve with intention? In today's episode, Pastor Bob and I dive deep into the heart of servant leadership. It's about rolling up your sleeves and looking for ways to serve actively—no task too small, no effort unnoticed. It's a journey of growth and grace. You don't want to procrastinate. You don't want to be lazy. It's been sai...

Season 5 of Lead2Serve launches right now. In the season 5 kickoff, Pastors Ed Taylor and Bob Claycamp explore the concept of servant leadership within the church. They emphasize the necessity of spiritual self-care for those in ministry, warning against the dangers of spiritual exhaustion. The discussion underscores the importance of daily practices such as Bible reading and prayer to maintain yo...

Pastor Avant Ramsey (1953-2023) was a special gift and blessing to our church. He is already GREATLY missed! Back in 2020, I sat down with Avant to discuss the racial tensions, which at the time were increasing, but for our brother Avant was something he lived with his entire life. Listen in and allow our brother to encourage you.

Quitting. It's a popular choice when things are challenging, complicated, and hard. The choice to stop is always before the Servant Leader. How do you know when it's time to move on? When do you agree that one season is over and another is beginning? These questions and more will be addressed on today's episode of the Lead2Serve podcast. Be sure to subscribe and share this podcast. It...

Closed doors can be painful and challenging. Sometimes they will move a person into deep discouragement or even depression. On today's episode of Lead2Serve, Pastor Ed Taylor and Pastor Bob Claycamp remind us of the importance of knowing that both closed doors and open doors for ministry and life come from God. God uses closed doors (a NO) as much as He uses open doors (a YES) in our lives. Yo...

Do you know where you belong in the Body of Christ? We often use the phrase "the calling of God" to describe God's will for our lives. What is it? How do I learn what it is for my life? How do I live out the call of God? On today's episode of Lead2serve, Pastors Ed & Bob talk about this and other subjects to help narrow down the focus of your life. Be sure to subscribe and sh...

Let's admit it, submission is a tough subject. It goes against our own selfish ambitions and can be made even more difficult when abuse has been involved or when you are serving alongside bad leaders. Even though there are challenges, we need to learn to be submissive to God while choosing to be submissive to the leadership God has placed in our lives. Without submission, chaos, confusion, and...

In today's episode, Pastor Ed Taylor and Pastor Bob Claycamp discuss the ongoing challenge of serving well while hurting. Serving can be one of the most painful things a person chooses to do, but will that hurt stop you? It's essential to learn to endure hardships like slander, gossip, betrayal, dishonesty, and a whole host of other challenging scenarios you will encounter. God will give y...

Building on the theme of challenges leaders are facing in the post-pandemic landscape, today's episode tackles the topic of pain and doubting. Pastor Ed and Pastor Bob talk about the reality of the pain associated with serving God's people. On top of the pain, there is the constant onslaught of doubts that flood the leaders mind. There is hope. Listen in.

On our episode today, we tackle the feelings of inadequacy that flood your mind when it comes to the heaviness of change and post-pandemic ministry. You might be feeling like, "man, I can't do this." One of the prevailing things of Barna's research in this post pandemic era in the church is that pastors Yes, but in particular, is people are quitting. They, they're just coming to the place where th...

Building on the topic of Embracing Change in episode 3, Pastor Ed Taylor and Pastor Bob Claycamp talk about the importance of clearly communicting through change. Since change is inevitable and it happens all the time, as leaders we must clearly communicate through the changes. So much chaos and uncertainty surrounds change and clear, concise, and focused communication helps maintain the unity and...

Today on Lead2Serve, Pastor Ed talks with Pastor Bob Claycamp about the importance of embracing change, especially when it's not your idea.  As a leader, in this post-pandemic season, we are living in a time of unprecedented changes. Globally, politically, spiritually. So much change. As a leader and pastor I like change. I don't like to remain stagnant. However, it's not easy. Join us in thi...

Launching into Season 4 of the Lead2Serve podcast, Pastor Bob Claycamp joins Pastor Ed to talk about a lot of topics facing the post pandemic Church and leadership. Adversities abound and if we're not careful, it's easy to be buried under the weight of it all. But as you choose to carefully walk through the difficulties, you will see amazing new and fresh opportunities!

Season 3 of Lead2Serve followed along topics that are in Pastor Ed's latest book, "Sure and Steady, Learning and Growing in Pastoral Ministry". The book is a collaboration of years of ministry trial and error here at Calvary with wise input from the pastoral team.  This final episode of Season 3 is on the topic of Inviting Yourself in to the Lives of others. Because there is "so much" ministr...

In today's episode, Pastor Ed discusses the importance of being intentional in connecting with others. So many times ministry becomes reactive to all the crises and needs of others that we forget the joy of stepping into people's lives before the crisis. Jesus was the master at stepping into lives and serving people where they were, not waiting for something to happen. Stop waiting. Start stepping...

I recorded a special edition of the podcast today, a discussion I had live with our mission team on the border of Ukraine actively helping settle refugees.  After they finished their dinner, and as they were heading for a night of much needed rest,  Pastor Byron, his wife Emily, Pastor JJ, Randy (Elder), and Irina and Masha shared about what is happening from their perspective. We talked...

As a servant of the Lord, you are literally being invited into people's lives every single day. How you handle that invitation truly matters. People are NOT events or calendar appointments. They are the precious blood bought people created in the image of God!  They deserve our best in ministering the gospel into their lives. There is more to follow up than returning a phone call or respondin...

On today's episode the topic is wasting time. Time is valuable. Your time. Other's time. It's something that cannot be bought, reproduced, or regained so it's important we choose to use our time wisely and invest it in Kingdom values.  I know most people conclude that they use their time wisely, but is it true? How you choose to use your spare time will either lead to great success or great f...

In today's episode, Pastor Ed talks about the importance of maintaining the place of player coach when serving in ministry. Yes, it's a sports analogy that reminds of of the importance of both leading and submitting at the same time. A great picture of servant leadership is of a coach helping others fulfill their God-given calling while at the same time being a player fulfilling your own calling....

Who likes feeling stuck? It seems like progress is the sign of success these days. Aways moving forward is desired. But have you considered that in that place of feeling stuck you are exactly where God wants you? Have you considered that maybe God has led you to place of being stuck so that you might stop, reassess, and cry out to Him? Have you thought out the close intimate times that are yours i...